Let me tell you something most high achievers would never admit out loud…the drive that made you successful can subtly start to destroy you from the inside out.
Would you say you’re driven…relentless in your pursuit of growth?
Being driven is one of the most valued traits in the workplace. When it’s healthy, it shows up as focus, energy and the passion to help your team accomplish what matters most. It helps you cut through the noise and stay centered amid constant distraction.
The Darker Side
But there’s a darker side.
Every strength has a “peak.” After that point, the very thing that once made you successful can start working against you. Being driven can quietly slide into something else: desperation.
Think of it like a bell curve. On one side, your drive fuels excellence. On the other, it flips and becomes a constant pressure to do more, achieve more and prove more.
“Superman Complex”
In the fitness world, it’s called the Superman Complex…the belief that no matter what you achieve, it’s never enough. Joshua Gordon described this in a podcast entitled Finding Significance Again, where he shared how tightly his identity became tied to accomplishment. Eventually, he found himself desperate to succeed, desperate to walk into any room and belong because of what he had achieved.
Many high performers know that feeling.
So, the real question becomes:
How do you use your drive to keep growing without letting it push you past the tipping point?
Who, What and How
It comes down to defining three things: Who, What and How
1. WHO – Know Who You Are
This is about identity…who you are at your core. Most people never slow down long enough to uncover this, and it usually takes more than just reading a book or listening to a podcast. When you understand who you are (and whose you are), you gain clarity that strengthens you when discouragement inevitably comes….and it’s coming. Identity becomes your anchor, not achievement. This is a huge foundation you need to manage what no one but you can see.
2. WHAT – Know What You Want
Define what you want to accomplish and set goals that keep you aligned.
Here’s what I do:
- Every January 1st and July 4th, I set goals in seven areas of my life and post them where I see them daily
- For work, I create annual goals that break down into monthly and weekly checkpoints
- I review them periodically to make sure they’re still relevant and motivating
Clarity reduces desperation.
Ambiguity fuels it.
Know what you want to do!
3. HOW – Build Your Support System
How are you going to get where you want to go and stay healthy while doing it?
You need a structure that:
- keeps your mission in front of you
- reviews your goals for accountability
- checks your mindset for signs of “desperation thinking”
This requires outside perspective…a board member, a mentor, a peer or a coach. Someone with fresh eyes who can ask the tough questions because they genuinely care about you and your organization.
High performers rarely lack effort.
What they lack is perspective.
Keep Your Drive Healthy
Defining your Who, What and How helps keep your drive working for you, not against you. It keeps you grounded, centered and growing without drifting into the desperation that can creep in when discouragement shows up.
I’d love to hear how you manage your drive?
Feel free to leave a comment below.
